Serial - Suddenly Daddy Part 37

This is a long one, with a lot going on.  I probably should have broken it up but I got to writing and it just flowed.  Trigger warning on this one, some dark stuff is talked about at one point.

You secure the stuff in the back then all pile into your king cab truck.  The front seats are moved up as much as possible to give the twins more room.  Poppy still bitches and complains at the less than luxury traveling conditions, but it isn't long before you are on the road.

On the way out of the city you swing into a grocery store to grab supper and some supplies for the cabin.  Jeremy had already packed most of what you would need but it never hurt to have extra.  The group of you split as you enter the store.  The girls heading over toward the booze, you and Jeremy heading for the food.  As you watch Poppy follow her mother toward the wine selection you feel a twinge inside you, you had been hoping to keep the girl dry for the weekend.  You still didn't have a good handle on Poppy's issues but alcohol was surely not something that would help you connect with her.  But, they were adults and you had no good reason to stop them, though you did now wish you'd just hit a fast food joint as you had initially planned.

As you take your small cart up and down the aisles you can't help but notice that Jeremy is turning heads all through the store.  He was easily the hottest “girl” in the place.  Men are giving him that hungry once over guys gave to beautiful women while the women glanced at his lean graceful figure jealously.  You notice one particularly interested fellow get the glare of death from his unimpressed girlfriend.  Jeremy seems oblivious to the effect he is having on those around him, he couldn't notice...his adoring eyes barely left you.  Your sexy boy was so happy to be out in public with you, so happy to be looking good for you, so proud to be wearing your gift.  God damn that kid did things to you.  You get your head back on task and grab what you need to grab.

You all meet up at the tills once more.  You could see the girls had picked up six bottles of wine and a raspberry flavored vodka.  You knew whose was whose.  As you wait in line to make the purchase you grab the vodka.  “You guys sure you want this?”

Claire just shrugs, it was obvious she didn't care one way or the other.  She was going to buy it but she obviously had no intention on drinking it.  Poppy looks at you curiously then scoffs.  “Uh...yeah, obviously.”

You look her straight in her eyes.  “You sure?”

She looks at you for a long couple of seconds.  “Um...”  She wasn't so sure anymore.

You set it down again and give her a smile.  “Your choice.”

She is looking at it now, you had just made the decision a bit more difficult for her.  She finally turns and whisper something to her mother.  Claire nods.  When the groceries get to cashier Claire takes the flavored spirit and passes it over.  “I changed my mind on this.”  The dude takes it and sets it to the side.  Poppy shoots you a little side glance and a smile.  You simply nod with a proud look.  Jeremy, who had witnessed the whole exchange, grins happily and gives his sister a squeeze of the shoulder.  Claire insists on paying for the groceries and before long you are on the road again.

As you exit the city limits you hear Poppy say.  “God, I can't remember the last time we left town.  This is great.”  Her surprising enthusiasm was infectious.  “This cabin better be nice though.”

“It has been a while.”  Claire agrees.  “Just never seems to be the time.”

“You just gotta make time.”  You reply.  It really was as simple as that.

“Hey Dad, got any of those country CD's to listen to?”  Jeremy says from behind you.

“Of course my boy...”

Claire instantly puts a stop to that talk.  “Don't even think about it!”  She fixes you with a glare that lets you know that she wasn't fucking around.  “I swear to God I'll jump, I don't care how fast we're going.”

Poppy immediately backs her up.  “Make that two of us!”

You could already sense some interesting dynamics forming between you all.  You chuckle and reply.  “I think that's a firm no Jeremy.”

Claire settles into her seat, making herself comfortable for the trip, and half turns sideways so she can look around at everyone.  “Why don't we talk instead.”

You look across to Claire and give her a slow nod.  The orange late day sun gave the already stunning Claire an angelic glow.

Poppy sighs.  “Boring!  Let's play twenty questions instead.”  You chuckle, Poppy and her silly games.  “That'll get us talking about something interesting at least.”

You look over toward her, she was sitting in behind her mother.  “Twenty questions?  Aren't you guys a little old for that?”

Poppy gives you a tricky crooked smile.  “Okay, you're first to go then.  I say nope.”

Jeremy answers right after.  “Nope.”

“Huh?”  You say.

Claire follows up with a laugh.  “We don't play it like most families Ted.  For us it is an honesty exercise, a chance to ask the others anything we want to.  Oh, and my answer is no.  We're not too old for twenty questions.”

Oh no, another word game with weird rules!  You watch the highway as you wait to see what would happen next.

Claire looks back at her kids.  “Okay, I'll go next.  We've all had Ted now, what do you guys think of him as a lover?”

You snap your eyes back to Claire.  “What!?”

Claire pats your shoulder.  “Calm down dear, I told you we talk about everything.  And this is long overdue.  I want to hear their opinions.”  She returns her attention to her kids.  “  I think he is an excellent lover.  Enthusiastic, commanding yet caring, strong.  And that mouth of his...whoo eee!  Has he eaten you two out yet?  Wow!  Damn good for a man.”  She is beaming at you happily.

You shouldn't be shocked anymore...yet you were.  You should have been prepared for this but you couldn't believe your ears.  Your parents barely spoke about sex at the best of times, never mind comparing notes with their children.

You feel Jeremy's hands snake up over your seat and caress the sensitive skin at the base of your neck, it sends a shiver down your body.  He says quietly.  “He's the best, the very very best.  The best lover I ever had.  His hands and arms are so strong...his dick is SO hard for me.  He tastes so good.  I like how he holds me.  I like how he looks at me.  He's perfect.”  You lean to look at him in the rear view, you saw nothing but pure unfettered honesty on his loving face.

Claire gives her son a most proud and happy grin, a healthy dose of arousal in her eyes as well.  “Awww...you two are so cute!”  She turns.  “Poppy?”

The girls shrugs.  “Meh, he's okay I guess.  Five out of ten.  But I have higher standards than you guys.”

Your indignation takes over from your initial stunned reaction.  “What the hell?  Just okay!?  Five out of ten!!!”  You glare back at her.  You see that playful impish grin across her face, your overreaction was exactly what she had been hoping for.  With a giggle she blows you a kiss as you shake your head and return your attention to the road.

“Now Ted, she's allowed her opinion.”  Claire chastises you, she then adds with a smile.  “Even if it is wrong.  She's still young, she still can't appreciate a good man when she finds one.  Poppy, you want to go next?”

“Sure!”  She thinks a moment.  You could see by the expressions around the cab that everyone was dreading what this teasing teen was going to ask.  Her eyes finally light up.  “Oh yeah!  That question you never answered that first night.  Favorite kink, what's the one thing that really gets you going?”

“Poppy.”  Claire rolls her eyes.  “You ask that every time.”

“Well...I don't know Ted's and he doesn't know ours.  Besides, things change.”  She replies.

Jeremy was the first to answer, his response a surprise to no one.  “Bondage, being held down.  No impact play though.  I like...feeling at the mercy of someone...someone strong.  Someone I trust.”  You give your boy a look in the mirror, he flutters a demure look back at you.  Both of you couldn't wait to get it on again.

Poppy answers next.  “Mine's the same as always.”  She hits you with a flash of pure twisted delight on her pretty face.

“Poppy...”  Claire tries to cut her off but Poppy just keeps going.

“In case you haven't noticed Ted, I've got some Mommy-Daddy issues.  I just love that shit!  Boy I get some weird reactions sometimes when I start calling my partners Mommy or Daddy.”  She giggles and reaches forward to gently stroke the side of her mother's neck.  “I love my Mommy and my Daddy...god...gets me wet just thinking about it.  Mmmm...”

Claire had blushed a bright pink and blurts out.  “Okay, that's enough Poppy.”  Huh?  Claire shutting down open honest discussion...that was odd.  Claire hurries to move the game along.  

You cut her off.  “Hold on a second there.  Don't cut her off.  What's that blushing about?  Total honesty Claire, isn't that what you always say.”

Her blush deepens another shade.  Before she can say a word Poppy peeps up.  “We did it.”  She bursts into an uncontrolled giggle.  “Mom and I.  We totally did each other...and it was fucking amazing!”

Claire is stammering.  “Dahhh...um...we...oh shit.  I had a few too many and...well...I was so worked up from going out with you all the time...all of our making out and heavy petting...oh god.  I was drunk Ted, it wasn't meant to happen.  Poppy, did you have to say that?”

You stare at her wide eyed...the thought of Poppy and Claire doing it...that was SO FUCKING HOT!!!  Holy shit!  “When was this!?”  You ask.

“Ha ha ha!  Last week!”  Poppy offers.  “Open offer to go again Mom, you were fucking awesome.  Mmmmm mmmmm ohhh Mommy...”  She moans lewdly as she lightly strokes her mother's shoulder.

“POPPY!”  Claire cries and waves Poppy's hand away.  “NO!  Never again.  Stop it.  It was a mistake.  It was a huge mistake.  We crossed a line there Poppy.  Never again!”

Poppy sits back with a sly grin.  “If you say so.”  She shoots you a wink, seeing the obvious interest in your stunned reaction.

“Enough of that, on with the game.”  Claire states.  She gives you one last guilty look before moving on.  “My answer is um, well, maybe you've guessed it already.  But...god!  Seeing two guys go at it.  I don't know what it is but that gets me going every time!”  She adds with stroke across your forearm.  “I'm looking forward to seeing you and Jeremy...hooo boy.”  She was getting flustered just thinking about it.  You hear her son chuckle behind you.

Yeah, you had kinda guessed that already.  Wow, this family was all sorts of kinky!

It was your turn to answer, all of their eyes turn to you.  You take a deep breath and resolve to loosening up a bit with these guys.  They had shared with you and it seemed only right to share back.  “Hmmm, that's a hell of a question Poppy.”  You think some more.  “Geez, the thing is I kind of have lots of them...and their always changing, ya know?”

“Come on Daddy!”  Poppy presses.  “If we looked at your internet history what are we going to find?  Come on.  There's gotta be something that gets you rock hard every time.”

Unconsciously your eyes flit to the mirror to look at your pretty boy, there is a split second's eye contact before you look ahead again.

“Ummm...”  You continue to think.

Claire says, assuaging a worry you had.  “Don't worry, twenty questions stays within the family.  We won't say anything...will we Poppy?”  Her words are pointed, much more firm than usual with her daughter.

Poppy nods quickly.  “Of course not.”  You had the sense she was actually telling the truth.

“Okay.”  You finally say.  “Listen I'm probably pretty vanilla compared to you guys but...um...I think I'd say...GAH!”  You start to laugh.  “I have too many!”

The others laugh along with you.  “As do we all dear, as do we all.”  Claire says.  “Come on, it can't be worse than what you've heard just now.

“Fine.  For right now...I'll say...anal.  Yeah, anal.  That's kinda kinky right?”  It wasn't the best answer, or even an honest one, but it would do for now.  The real answer was that you didn't have one overarching kink, but after them openly sharing theirs you wanted to give them an answer.

Claire continues to laugh.  “It wasn't a contest Ted, we just wanted the truth.  Anal huh?  It's been a while but I'd be game.  I would expect tit for tat though big guy.”  Tit for tat!?  Claire continues right along.  “Okay Jeremy, your turn hun.”

He says in his soft light voice, obviously having a question at the ready.  “What do you guys like better, dicks or pussies?”  You could hear trepidation in his voice, as if afraid of what he might hear.  He follows up quickly.  “I like dicks better.”

Poppy laughs.  “No shit!  I gotta go with pussies.  Pussies come with titties and I love me some titties.”

“That wasn't the question!”  Complains her twin.  “You can't count titties.”

“They're a package deal I'm afraid brother.  Women are all soft and smooth too, they smell good, they're patient, they take their time, they know how to munch muff, they aren't done after few minutes.  Women rule guys, it's just an obvious fact.  Pussies win hands down for me.  Though...I wouldn't want to live without dick either.  They can be a hell of a lot of fun too.”

Well...that was certainly informative!  Although Poppy had told you that the whole family was “queer” you'd only seen her in the light of her coming on to you.  You had never seen her around other girls.  You never would have guessed she had a decided preference for women.  You look over to Claire to see she was deep in thought, this was something she was weighing carefully.  Obviously a difficult question for her.

“That...that is a tough one.”  She gives you a guilty look.  “He he he, uh yeah, you sure are learning a lot about us.  Yeah, I'm bi Teddy.  Obviously.  Well, I'm glad we're playing this then, get these things out in the open.  Get everything out between us.  Ummm...I have to go with...both I'm afraid.”  Another informative answer.  “I like both!”

Poppy groans.  “Aw, come on!  What a cop out!”

Claire laughs.  “Sorry!  I just can't decide.  They're both so good!”  With a pretty grin she says.  “I'll say this, I'd choose my Teddy over anyone.  I love you Ted.”

You glance over and see a wonderful plain honesty in her deep blue eyes.  She wasn't just having you on or sparing your feelings.  “Love you too Claire.”

A silence then fills the cab.  

“Dad?”  Jeremy says softly, his hands were gently massaging your shoulders.  “What do you prefer?”

You sigh.  The kid had a lot to learn.  When it comes to matters of the heart or sexual ego you had found that it was better not to ask any questions that you couldn't handle the answers to.  The obvious question embedded within his question was that he was asking whether you liked him or his mother and sister better sexually.  In his naivete he had foolishly set himself up to be hurt by your answer.  You decide to dodge it.  “I pass.”

The groans of protest are hardly out of their mouths when you state again firmly.  “I pass.”

“That's not fair.”  Poppy grumbles.

Claire is looking at you closely before she finally says.  “Give him time Poppy.  He's still new to all this.”

You give Claire a look to tell her you appreciated her understanding.  “To be fair, no one actually asked if I wanted to play.”

“True enough.”  Claire nods.  You hated to sour the mood but you wanted to spare your boy's feelings on that one.  Also...if you actually gave it some thought it might not be so cut and dry anymore.

Glancing in behind her you see an evil glint in Poppy's eyes, her attention had turned to her brother.  Oh no, you knew that look.  She leans over and whispers.  “He he he!  Hear that?  He doesn't like your little pecker Jeremy, that's why he didn't answer.  Daddy only likes pussy, he doesn't want to touch your teeny little...”

“Poppy!”  You snap, raising your voice higher than you meant to.  “Stop teasing him!”

Jeremy says in a small voice.  “It's okay Dad...”

“No, no it's not okay.  You don't need to have your feelings hurt every god damned day.  I am getting sick of it.”  You could see stunned looks on both Claire and Poppy.

Claire starts to say something.  “Ted, Poppy's just teasing.  It's just how she is.”

“No, she's being mean.  It's only fun for her.  Okay, it's my turn next right?  Poppy, what do you really think about Jeremy?  Tell us what you really think.”

Poppy continues to stare at you, as if not comprehending your words.  “What?”

“You heard me.  Tell us what you really think about your brother.  No teasing, no cute little insults, just the plain truth.”

“What a stupid question.”  Poppy scoffs.

“Well, it's my question.  Come on Poppy, you can't really think those things you say about Jeremy.  Let's hear the truth.”  You press.

“He's fine.”  Poppy crosses her arms and looks out the window, obviously having no intention of answering further.  This game wasn't fun for her anymore.  Their little game of honesty had just gotten real.

Jeremy says softly.  “Do you...do you hate me?”

Her head snaps back to look at him, her face aghast at what she had just heard.  “Hate you?”

“Do you?”  Jeremy asks.

Another tense silence fills the cab.  Poppy's impudent pout slowly disappears, she just stares for a time at her twin.  You could see the tension and confusion within her.  She looks to you, you give her a warm supportive look to urge her on.  She returns her attention to her brother.  Claire is still and silent as she witnesses this moment between her children.

Poppy finally clears her throat and answers in a quiet tone.  “Okay, fine.  Um...I think...I think Jeremy is...a good person.  He's smart and caring and funny and...”  There is another long silence as she gathers herself.  “I think he's...”  Tears begin to form at the corners of her eyes.  “I think he's the bravest person I've ever met.  I think he is so so beautiful.  Both inside and out.  He's always there for me...no matter what I say to him.  No matter how much I push him away...when I need him...he's still there.” Her bottom lip trembles. “He...he protected me...he tried anyways...I'm sorry Jeremy...I'm sorry he'd hit you.  Jeremy...he would hold me when we were little after...after Roger...”  She takes a deep shuddering breath.  “...you'd tell me it would be okay.  You'd just hold me and tell me it would be okay.  I'll never forget that.”  She sobs and the tears now flow freely, her face was a mask of both sadness and anger.  “How!?  How are you so nice and I'm so shitty?  How does that even happen!?  It's not fair!”

Jeremy leans across and pulls his sister into an embrace.  “You're not shitty.”  He whispers to her.

Poppy weeps into his shoulder.  “Yes I am!  You're smarter, you're nicer, you can cook so good, you even look better than me in a dress for fuck sake!  You're just better than me.  We're twins!  Why am I so fucked up and you're so perfect!?”

As Jeremy holds his sobbing sister you and Claire are looking at each other intensely, both of you were thinking the same thing.  You could see a parent's fury in Claire's eyes, it was a feeling you were struggling to control yourself.  You had been far too kind to Roger earlier that day.  Claire starts.  “Poppy.  What you said just now.  What did Roger do to you?”

Poppy's face was still buried in Jeremy's neck, in the beautiful blue scarf you had gotten for him.  Jeremy looks at his mother with a steel gaze and just shakes his head.  You could see a fierce sibling protectiveness in the young man, likely a part of him that had been long buried.  A part of him that hadn't been necessary since their real dad had left all those years ago.

Claire says in a voice that could cut diamonds.  “Turn the truck around Ted, we're going home.”

“Already on it.”  You growl.  You were looking for any off ramp or connection in the divided highway to turn back toward the city.

“NO!”  The twins say together.

“No, come on.”  Poppy sniffles as she wipes the tears away.  “Don't let this ruin the weekend.  Sorry this came out like this, just...”  She looks at her brother.  “I just needed to say that.  I don't hate you Jeremy, I love you!  More than anyone and anything.  I just...it's fun to tease, ya know?  Take you down a peg.  It's fun to tease men, they're so fragile and so simple to get at.  And you're just such an easy target.  I was just having fun.”

Claire turns in her seat to look back at her daughter.  They give each other an awkward hug through the limited space between the seats.  Claire says in a somber tone.  “Poppy, Jeremy, you need to tell me what happened.  Right now.  This is serious.”

Poppy nods as she gathers her emotions once more.  “I know, I know.  It's out now, I guess it's time to tell you.  Um...you sure you want to hear this Ted?  I could talk to Mom alone if you want.”

“Go ahead Poppy.  Let it out.”  You respond.

She smiles, obviously happy to hear that.  She trusted you and it was a precious feeling.  She takes a breath and begins.  “Good.  Thank you...Daddy.  Um so...it wasn't rape or anything like that.  Don't worry about that.”  You hear as a breath of relief escapes Claire...though the relief is short lived.  “I mean...sometimes he'd touch me a little.  Just my legs usually.  But he never raped me. He um...he liked to...jack off...while I watched.  I had to take off my clothes and lay on my bed and watch him.  And he'd look at me while he did it.”  Jeremy had his arm around his sister, lending her strength during her revelation.  “He'd talk to me...call me names and stuff.  Little slut and stuff like that.  If I...”  She takes another long deep breath, holding down her swirling emotions.  “...um, if I tried to leave he said he'd, um, he said he'd hurt Jeremy, and he said he'd stick needles in me...in my eyes and lips and nipples...and pussy...he said you wouldn't even notice cause the holes would be so small.  Isn't that stupid?”  She chuckles mirthlessly.  “The things you believe when you are little huh?  Um, he'd um, he'd cum on my barbies or dollies or on...on my tummy.  He'd say to clean it up before...before my Mama saw what a whore I was.  He...he made me feel...like it was all my fault.”  Her eyes are blinking fast as she struggled to keep the tears from flowing again.  You believe it is Jeremy's arm around her that kept her from breaking down.  She then gives her brother a kind sweet smile.  “But Jeremy was always there for me after. We'd clean up and talk and even joke sometimes...and hug.  Always the hug.  Thank you Jeremy, I don't know if I could have...made it...without you.”  They hug again.

Claire squeezes her upper body back between the seats and joins the family embrace.  “Oh my god sweet heart.”  She holds her and strokes her and kisses her cheek.

Poppy, having opened up, just kept the confessions flowing.  “I got off easy.  He'd hit Jeremy sometimes, real hard, when he tried to help me.  Call him a sissy and a faggot and a dummy.  Never on the face or arms or hands though.  Always where the clothes would cover it.”

“Not too much.”  Jeremy mutters.  “Only a few times.  I wish I'd been stronger, I felt so helpless.”

You look at him in the mirror.  “Sounds like you were plenty strong my boy.  Being there for your sister like that.  That takes a real man to do that.”

Claire says in disbelief.  “This all happened under my nose!?  How did I not notice?”

“You were never there.”  Jeremy says in a hushed voice.  His mother flinches as is she'd just been physically struck, that just had to hurt.

Poppy says.  “Remember when Jeremy hurt his shoulder?  That was Roger.”

Claire gasps.  “You said you fell off a swing.  Guys...oh my god...why didn't you tell me!?  I would have done anything to protect you.”  There was a moment's silence.  “Oh Jesus, you were only six when that happened!  How early...?  Why didn't you tell me!?”

Poppy sniffles again and pushes back from her mother.  “Um...we heard you talking one day.  About a case you were studying.  You talked about how all the kids had to go up and talk in front of other adults and how...how there were all these hard questions and...media and stuff.  And how the guy got away with it in the end and all of it had been for nothing.”  Poppy swallows hard.  “Roger knows all the best lawyers, and there's no evidence...  Ahem...we knew you'd charge him and make us do all that.  We didn't want to.  Besides, everything got better after he left.”

“Poppy!  No, no, no!  I was just complaining about the injustice of that case is all.  Those cases are the exception.  We have to charge that son of a bitch.  What if he has more kids Poppy?  He'll do it all over again.  We have to go back and charge that piece of shit.  I'll fucking bury him on the stand!”  She turns to you.  “Ted, turn around.”

“I'm on it.”  You say again.  You were currently on a long stretch of road with no breaks.  You were seeing red and you had pushed the speed of the truck to well past the legal limit.  The thought of Roger doing that fucked up shit to Poppy.  The thought of him hurting Jeremy...dark dark thoughts were taking shape in your mind.

“NO!”  The kids say again.  “No, please!  We want to go to the cabin.”

Poppy's vulnerable state had passed and she was now pissed.  Hurtful as this was these were old issues for her.  Shocking to you and Claire these were things she'd had to come to grips with over the years.  “Don't you guys dare turn around!  I should have never said anything.  We want a weekend away.  Jeremy is so excited, hell, even I'm starting to look forward to it.  Doing something as a family, we never get to do this stuff.  When was the last time we did anything like this Mom?”  She then adds.  “Besides...I think we all know what's happening once we get up there.”  She actually laughs, this one genuine and joyful.  “Come on, let's get nasty with Daddy.  Let's give him a weekend he'll never forget.”

Jeremy chimes in.  “Please don't go back.  Lets have a nice weekend together.”

You and Claire look across at each other.  “I...I guess it could wait till we get back.”  Claire says uncertainly.

“Please!”  The kids beg you.  “Come on Daddy, please!”

You slow down to a safe speed and mull it over.  You took some time to douse your rage and control your breathing.  This information seemed to demand an immediate reaction.  Yet it was also years old now.  You look back at the pleading kids, their sparkling matching blue eyes beseeching you to keep driving away from the city.  

Ah hell, what was a few more days.  Besides, a family weekend would probably do you all a lot of good.  It already had.

With a breath and a nod you agree.  The kids cheer.  Claire smiles across at you.  You had learned a lot about each other this drive.  Having been stuck together with nothing to do but talk had worked wonders.  No matter what happened now this trip had already been a success.  There would be uncomfortable matters to grapple with when you got back, but for now it was time to bond and enjoy each other's company.

You continue to drive the family, your family, out to the cabin.